Ferry Prices OMG!

[All uphill]

Bear in mind that with the (EDIT: longer) night crossings you are getting accommodation - that could be saving you $40* (or 70* in NED). Last 2 years the Harwich-Holland service has seemed fair value as a cyclist (cabin included - they're pretty comfy, and the time is right for a good night's sleep!)

*awaits inevitable price-quibbling counter-post ...

No quibbling from me.

I see the journey to Harwich, cycling across London, and from Manningtree to Harwich, plus a night on the boat as part of my holiday, and good value.

I love seeing the sun come up from a cabin with a window.

And yes, that's not the view from a cabin.

 

[Sixmile]

Ferry prices really bug me! Foot passengers and bikes should be so much cheaper!

100% agree. It's not right that if you take a 15kg vehicle that is even slightly comparable to taking a 2000kg vehicle.

Car rates are also widely unfair. I'm in a 3.6m long Jimny which costs the same as a 4.9m long Bentley continental or a 5m long Skoda Superb estate. Both are also much wider thus taking up more room overall and costing more to transport. Like people on airplanes, ferries should charge by the weight and size of what it's carrying.

 

[Drago]

I think most ferries use a cut-off around the 7 metre mark, with separates the cars, small campers, etc, from the large campers, motorhomes and commercials, etc.

 

[matticus]

100% agree. It's not right that if you take a 15kg vehicle that is even slightly comparable to taking a 2000kg vehicle.

Yes. Sadly Ferries are not a normal "free market" situation - and everyone with any power is a motorist - so we will always get shafted.
BUT I would really like someone in the industry to honestly tell me how much vehicle weight affects their bottom line etc
(they used to claim that stuff like Duty-free sales were an issue, but I'm not convinced that's a real factor ... )

 

[Andy in Germany]

I think most ferries use a cut-off around the 7 metre mark, with separates the cars, small campers, etc, from the large campers, motorhomes and commercials, etc.

I'm not seven metres with or without my bike.

 

[Drago]

I'm not seven metres with or without my bike.

I come close, butnI keep it quiet because the endless offers from porn film producers get a bit tiresome.

 

[T4tomo]

Leshuttle has 20% off from travel unto end of June if you book by end of today
25JANSALE

 

[arranandy]

We're doing Newcastle to Ijmuiden the first week of June for £456

That's 2 people, 2 bikes, inside cabins plus dinner and breakfast both ways.

I thought this was good value as I also priced up flying with 2 bikes and luggage and it was over £650.

 

[Drago]

Befriend @Salty seadog and get him to carry you aboard has hand luggage

 

[Julia9054]

We're doing Newcastle to Ijmuiden the first week of June for £456

That's 2 people, 2 bikes, inside cabins plus dinner and breakfast both ways.

I thought this was good value as I also priced up flying with 2 bikes and luggage and it was over £650.

Hmmm.
I priced that ferry up for the week before and it came to around £200 more. I guess that's the difference the school holidays makes.

 

[Salty seadog]

Befriend @Salty seadog and get him to carry you aboard has hand luggage

I'm a land lubber now.

 

[Drago]

I'm a land lubber now.

Run aground again,eh?

 

[Salty seadog]

Run aground again,eh?

Permanently this time. If left a couple of years before but you know what P&O did to all their staff.

Nasty stuff. A lot of the guys and girls who'd been there 20+years like me had already left, the writing was on the wall for years.

 

[kabman]

It may not suit every itinerary but DFDS from Dover to Dunkirk (or Calais) is still £25 each way for cyclists.

 

[scragend]

It may not suit every itinerary but DFDS from Dover to Dunkirk (or Calais) is still £25 each way for cyclists.

And long may it continue.

It's a pain that I can't quite make it from home to Dover, then the ferry to Dunkirk and then the ride across the border within a day (without having to start or finish at an unreasonable hour, or get a train from/to the north at an unreasonable price).

I have done that route once and stayed overnight in Dover in each direction, which was fine but it adds an extra couple of days onto the trip and available time is in short supply to start off with.